Andrea T.
Yelp
If you love flowers and plants but can kill one just by looking in its direction *raises hand in shame* the Metro Atlanta Urban Farm (MAUF) can give you a greener tomorrow.
They've been turning brown thumbs green since 2009 at their operation in College Park on the MARTA line between the East Point and College Park stations. I'd passed by before without paying attention but I wish I'd known about them before today's MLK Day service project.
During our orientation, Mr. Wilson explained that they teach people in the community how to grow their own food. Adults and children can get hands-on experience at MAUF that they can use to cultivate organic gardens of their own. They learn which vegetables to plant in each season and how to nourish the soil. They also get information about cooking and preserving/canning their produce.
MAUF is focused on self-sufficiency and farming of high quality produce. Everything they grow is non-GMO and is free of hormones, synthetic pesticides and fertilizer and the majority of what they plant are heirloom seeds. They have a well onsite and they're in the process of going off the grid with solar power.
They sell fresh, in-season fruits and vegetables to the public, including to several of the restaurants in the area. Low-income EBT and food stamp recipients can buy $20 worth of produce for $10 through their 2-for-1 discount program.
I encourage everyone to support this organization's work to educate people in the Atlanta community and help them eat nutritiously. Today we pulled weeds inside the hoop houses, tended the compost pile and stained tables in furtherance of their mission. I plan to return (when it warms up) to learn how to grow some of my favorite veggies at home!
To learn more about the Metro Atlanta Urban Farm, volunteer or make a tax deductible donation, please visit http://themetroatlantaurbanfarm.com.